But that night, a light goes on in one of the windows. And the next day she sees a girl in the grounds. Ella is hooked. The house has a story to tell. She is sure of it. Enter Thornhill, Institute for Children, and discover the dark secrets that lie within.But once inside, will you ever leave?

*****

I was so excited when I unwrapped a package for David Fickling Books and out popped Thornhill. You may have seen my reaction on Twitter. I had already come across Pam Smy‘s artwork for Siobhan Dowd’s Ransom of Dond and loved it. Would this be as brilliant?

Being thrilled was no mistake – it’s a corker of a book. I love how the two stories of Ella and the girl in the window are entwined – using both text and image. It has the power of the graphic novel running side-by-side with an unsettling written tale.

In my head, it’s like one of those BBC Christmas ghost stories from years ago. A sinister narration plays as you watch an unnerving black and white sequence of images. The pictures complement the sentences perfectly.

Neither should be approached by the easily-distressed – but they will be appreciated by lovers of dark and disturbing beauty. You can’t stop ‘watching’ the events unfold. High quality production makes this a book to treasure and return to. Thank you, DFB and Pam Smy. This one stays in the library.